Improvement in key-rings



H. TILDE'N.

I Key-Bing. Q

N0 160 970 Patented March L6, 1875.

I v Inventor.-

THE sRAPmcnokubTo 11111.39 Mn PARK PLACE-,NX.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

HOWARD TILDEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN KEY-RINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,970, dated March 16, 1875; application filed February 26, 1875.

tion:

The object of the present invention is to furnish to the public key-rings which are more cheaply and easily manufactured than those in common use, being also more desirable in form and appearance.

The invention consists in key-rings which are formed out of a plate or blank of sheet metal or spring-brass by means of dies shaped to cut a ring with a D-shaped or nearly semicircular openingfor the reception of the keys, thus leaving one side of the'ring comparatively broad, to enable this portion to be used as an inscription-plate, and at. the junction of the broadened inscription-plate with the narrow ring part a slit is made for the purpose of introducing the keys into the ring.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent reverse views of my invention; Figs. 3 and 4, edge views of the key-ring; Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, views showing the ring made in different or modified forms.

Ordinary key-rings are made of round wire, and of plate metal, with the open ends of the ring made to overlap each other, thus precluding the possibility of their being struck out at one operation from a plate or blank.

Rings with overlapping ends are also objectionable, because the keys cannot be inserted and removed with ease and facility.

The present invention is designed to enable key-rings to be produced at a greatly-reduced cost, and with comparatively less labor than is possible in the manufacture of ordinary rings.

The letter A designates a circular key-ring, which is provided with a broadened plate portion, B, at one side, this part being designed for the reception of a suitable inscription, such as the name and address of the owner of the keys. The ring is stamped or cut out at one operation from a suitable plate or blank of sheet metal; and the dies for forming the ring are so shaped that a D or nearly semicircular opening, 0, is formed in the ring for the reception of the keys. A slit, D, is made at the junction of the narrow ring portion with the inscription-plate, this slit being generally formed in the act of stamping out the ring; but it may be cut subsequently or separately.

It will be perceived that the split or open portion of the ring affords the greatest facility for introducing the keys, as there are no overlapping parts, as in ordinary rings.

The ring is opened by simply springing it laterally, and when it is made of spring-brass, as is generally done, it will close when the pressure of the hand is removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A keyring formed from a single piece of flexible sheet metal, with the angular opening (J and broadened inscription-plate B, said ring being divided at the junction of the broadened inscription-plate and the narrow portion of the ring to form the slit D, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

HOWARD TILDEN. Witnesses:

F. (J. BOWEN, H. G. BATCHELLER. 

